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(N0 ModeLf A. G. LYNE.

7 FILE Box. No. 301,452. Patented July 1, 1884;

WITNESSES UNITED STATES ATENI Fries.

FILE- BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 301,452, dated July 1,1884.

Application filed April 26, 1884. (No model.)

5"0 aZZ whom it may concern-.-

I Be it known that I, ALPHEUS G. LYNE, of Washington, in the District ofColumbia, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in File-Boxes, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had. to the annexed drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention consists of a file-box in which the follower-board isconnected to the body of the box by means of a sliding hinge, the jointof which is adapted to be rendered rigid or flexible at will, ashereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a file-box showing myimprovement. Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the two parts of thesliding hinge enlarged and detached from the box. Fig. 4 is a detailsectional view showing the two parts of the hinge rigidly connectedtogether for supporting the follower in a vertical position against thepressure of the papers in the box. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing thetwo parts of the hinge in position for forming a flexible joint to allowthe follower to be turned back to release the papers. Fig. 6 is a frontelevation of the lower part of the hinge, showing the guide-plate insection; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a modified form of thelower I part of the hinge, whereby it is adapted to tions F for nails orscrews G, by which it is secured to the lower end of the follower, andtwo downwardly-extending parallel arms, H, having gudgeons I,-which areprovided with projections or lugs J on their upper surfaces. Thegudgeons are formed on the inner surfaces of the arms opposite to eachother, with a narrow space intervening between them.

Between the arms H is arranged the lower part, K, of the hinge. The partK consists of a separate solid casting having grooves L in oppositesides thereof, which loosely engage the opposite edges of the slotin theguideplate 13, to adapt the casting to slide freely in said plate.

In opposite sides of the part K are formed rectangular recesses M, forreceiving the godgeons I, which recesses terminate at the forward partof their upper ends in smaller rectangular recesses-N, for receiving thelugs J, which are shaped to fit said recesses N. The recesses M areequal in width--that is, hori- Zontallyt0 the diameter of the gudgeonsI,

.but are made longer vertically than said diameter, in order that whenthe gudgeons are allowed to rest by gravity in the lower ends of saidrecesses and on the guideplate B the lugs J may. not enter the recessesN, but ,will allow the gudgeons to be turned backward in the recesses Muntil said lugs rest against the The pressure will prevent the lugs frombecoming accidentally disengaged by gravity from the recesses N; but asuitable pressure of the hand against the back of the follower willovercome the resistance of the papers sufficiently to allow gravity toact upon the follower and cause I it to drop downward and backward tothe position shown in Fig. 5.

P is a handle attached to the upper part of the hi nge, by which thefollower is tobe turned upright and lifted into locking position.

I have shown the grooves L formed only in the forward part of thecasting K, and the rear part of the latter made narrower than theforward part to adapt said rear part to be readily passed between thearms H in placing the gudgeons in engagement with the recesses M, andthe rear part of the casting K is made to terminate in a flange, Q,whichrests on top of the plate B. Where the armsHare arranged farther apartthan herein shown ,the grooves L may be extended from the front to therear of 70 rear walls of recesses M, and thus form stops I I the castingK, but will need to be cut away atstrengthen the latter, and therebyadapts it to be made light and less expensive than when constructedwithout such partition. Where it is desirable to dispense with theguide-plate B the lower part of the hingeis to be formed with a flange,S, extending obliquely outward and downward from each side thereof, asshown in Fig. 7, and two corresponding grooves'are to be formed in thebottom of the box for receiving said flanges. Such grooves mayconveniently be formed by means of two circular saws set at a suitableangle with each other in an obvious manner. 1

It is obvious that the upper part of the hinge may be made longer thanherein shown, and connected to the middle instead of the lower end ofthe follower, andits connection with the follower, instead of beingrigid, may be made loose or flexible, in a manner already employed infile-boxes, without changing the character of my invention.

What I claim is 1. The combination, with the follower and the body ,ofthe box having a guide or way therein, of the sliding hinge forconnecting said follower and body together, and stops formed on or aboutthe interlocking parts of the hinge for rendering the joint of the hingerigid at will to support the follower in an upright position, one of theparts of said hinge being adapted to slide in said guide or way, and theother being attached to said follower, substantially as shown anddescribed.

2. The combination, with the follower and the body of the box having aguide or way therein, of the sliding hinge for connecting the saidfollower and body together, said hinge consisting of two interlockingparts having corresponding shoulders and recesses which are adapted tobe made to engage each other to support the follower in an uprightposition, and to be disengaged from each other to allow the follower tobe turned backward, one of the parts of said hinge being adapted toslide in said guide or way, and the otherbeing attached to saidfollower, substantially as shown and described.

3. The hinge for connecting the follower and body of a file-boxtogether, consisting of the upper part having two parallel arms providedwith shouldered gudgeons, and the lower part having shouldered recessesin opposite sides thereof of greater vertical than horizontal extent,for receiving said gudgeons, and means, substantially as described, forengaging a guide or way in the body of the box, substantially as shownand described.

4. The hinge for connectingv the follower with the body of a file-box,consisting of the upper part having two parallel arms provided withshouldered gudgeons, and the lower part having shouldered recesses inopposite sides thereof of greater vertical than horizontal eX- tent, forreceiving said gudgeons, and grooves L in opposite sides thereof, andthe heel or flange Q at the. rear thereof, substantially as shown anddescribed.

ALPHEUS G. LYNE.

NVitnesses:

Tiroivms W. SORAN, 'W. W. HoLLINeswoRrn.

